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01 July 2025 - Year XXIX
Independent journal on economy and transport policy
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FORUM of Shipping
and Logistics



Shipping and Shipbuilding Markets in 2002

I N D E X




The dry bulk market in 2002

 

The freight market:
     Capesize - Panamax - Handymax & Handysize
The second-hand market:
     Capesize - Panamax - Handymax & Handysize
 

The dry bulk shipping market finished the year 2002 taking all sizes into account at levels that had not been seen since the end of 2000, at a time when the overall economic conditions were far more favourable. At the beginning of the year nothing indicated such a sprightly resurgence, and few analysts would have stuck their necks out to predict freight rates around $25,000 per day for modern Capesizes. As in other sectors of the shipping market, everyone was betting on a recovery of the American economy, and in its wake that of countries in the European Union, occurring during the course of the second half of 2002. This was by no means the case, and the uncertainties linked to the American intervention and their allies in Iraq, more than ever casts a pall over the world economy and the confidence necessary for a rebound. Japan is for its part still stuck in its quagmire which has been going on for several years.

The factors that have contributed to the rise in freight rates during the year, mainly with effect from September, are essentially:

  • a significant increase in raw materials into China, Japan and other South East Asian countries ; whilst total world growth has been flat the exception is China which registers annual increases in GNP of the order of 7,5 %.

  • a decrease in the number of newbuildings coming onto the market compared to previous years, at least as concerns the Capesizes and Panamaxes.

  • a steady increase in the cost of bunkers, which was caused initially by the policy of reducing OPEC production, and secondly by the fear of conflict in the Gulf.

  • at the end of the year, shutdown for maintenance of some Japanese nuclear power stations, resulting in a sizeable increase of steam coal imports.

We will attempt a rapid tour of the main events in the dry bulk market over the course of the past 12 months. For reference, the Baltic Dry index which began the year at 876 points ended at 1739, the highest level since November 2000.

Based on the statistics published by IISI at the end of January 2003, world crude steel production has totalled slightly over 900 million tons in 2002, an increase of 6,4 % over 2001. The lion's share of this rise is due to China producing 181 million tons, compared to 150 million in 2001, or an increase of 20,3 %. For comparison, in 1995 Chinese steel production was 95 million tons and was below that of Japan's 101 million tons. In 2002, Japanese production reached 107 million, an increase of 4,7 % compared to 2001, an impressive achievement if we consider the lethargy of the Japanese economy. Production in the E.U. only increased by 0,1 %, and to illustrate the contrasting situations, French production increased by 5,6 %, whereas Germany was only able to come up with a modest rise of 0,4 %. The restrictive measures taken by the U.S. seem to be taking effect since after months of declining production, American steel figures for 2002 finished with an increase of 2,5 % over 2001 with 92 million tons. Japanese and Korean steel producers who fed the Chinese market throughout the year, helped alleviate the American and European markets, thus allowing steel prices to find their levels of the first quarter 2000 after two years of decline. With steel production being the driving force of the Capesize market, the higher production levels were bound to have an influence on freight rates.

The healthy standing of the Capesize market was partly due to the growth in Chinese imports of iron ore. Based on provisional figures these should exceed 110 million tons in 2002, 20 million more than in 2001. In addition, the share of Chinese imports coming from Brazil should represent 27,1 % of the 2002 total, compared to 17,3 % in 1998, thereby stretching the ton/miles. If this trend continues, in a short time Chinese imports of iron ore will surpass that of the E.U. and of Japan. Still in the realm of raw materials, Japan was obliged to import nearly 6 million tons of additional steam coal over the period September 2002 to April 2003, following the shutdown of 9 nuclear power stations out of a total of 18, run by Tokyo Electric Co. which helped to sustain the Panamax market in the Pacific during the fourth quarter. In the case of cereals, Australia suffered one of its worst droughts in history and its crop was halved, thus redirecting imports from the South East Asian countries. Grain trade according to the International Grain Council should remain stable for the 2002-2003 season around 207 million tons.

In the industrial sector new mergers were formed in 2002. In Japan, NKK and Kawasaki Steel united forces in a new entity, JFE Steel, which initiates the first merger in the steel industry in the country and follows the example within the European scene which underwent a profound restructuring two years earlier. The combined production of the two companies totals some 28 million tons. At the same time, NSC, Sumitomo Metals and Kobe Steel have entered negotiations in view of getting together. And still within the steel sector, US Steel made a proposal to take over National Steel for $750 million but as yet unconfirmed. Also to be noted is the intended acquisition of the aluminium division of Corus by Pechiney.

Finally, at the end of the year, the IMO against the better judgement of certain countries, decided to impose double-hulls on vessels over 150 meters for all newbuildings. This ruling still has to be ratified within the context of the SOLAS convention by January 2004 at the latest. Certain owners having anticipated this decision, placed orders for double-hulled ships already during the course of the 2002.
 


 

Parallel to the increase in freight rates over the year, one should not forget the rise in bunker prices. The price of IFO 380 cst went from $100 per ton in January, basis delivery Rotterdam, to over $150 per ton in December, which corresponds for a Capesize to an increase of 50 cents on an average freight rate of $ 8,15 on a voyage Brasil ' Rotterdam.
 

To appreciate the movement of freight increases in the Atlantic we can cite a few examples. On the iron ore route from Brazil to China, rates went from $ 6/ton in January to $ 7,50 on average from March to August, to finish the year at $ 13,50. Transatlantic cargoes took off from $ 4 at the beginning of the year to fix at over $8 twelve months later. This hike was also repeated within the coal market out of South Africa. At the start of 2002, cargoes were fixed to North Europe at under $ 5 per ton, to achieve $ 8 at the end of September, and finish the year at above $10. In the Pacific, there was a similar phenomenon despite the fact that the Atlantic market benefited with a premium over the Pacific basin. Freights on the iron ore route from Australia to China doubled between January and December. Backhaul routes however suffered from the drop in liftings of minerals from Australia to Europe. This strong rise in rates was even more pronounced on the time-charter market. Modern large ships, fixed for fronthaul trips with delivery Rotterdam to the Far East via Brazil were achieving $ 8,000 in January and ended the year above $ 26,000. Modern ships of 170,000 dwt chartered for 12 months witnessed their rates reach over $ 18,000 at the end of the year, some $ 7,000 more than they could expect in January 2002.


 
The Capesize fleet has remained relatively stable and delivery of new tonnage was limited in 2002. Twenty-five ships for 4 million dwt were delivered, against 34 in 2001, whereas 17 ships were scrapped (of which 8 were combined carriers). In 2003 additions to the fleet will stay limited, despite a small growth, due to the fact that there were very few major orders during the period 2000-2001. Thirty-two additional ships, for 5 million dwt, should come into service in the course of this year. However the sudden upsurge in freight rates during the second half of last year, linked to low construction costs, and the availability of early slots in certain Japanese shipyards, plus the creation of new building docks in China has contributed to a flood of orders to be delivered as from 2004. No less than 50 ships have been ordered in 2002, including several big carriers of 200,000 dwt for Japanese account.

In 2001 in line with large tanker owners, some of the principal players in the Capesize market have created the pool Cape International which combined some 80 ships. This unit had its difficulties in getting formed, since in October 2002 Zodiac who had the biggest contribution to the pool decided to withdraw. Elsewhere, the Capesize and Panamax fleet of two other major players in the dry bulk scene Coeclerici and Ceres Hellenic joined forces. At the end of the year the Belgian Cobelfret strengthened its position within the Capesize market by acquiring the 50 % held by BHP-Billiton in its affiliate Cobam.

The Panamax market began the year 2002 at depressed levels. Inter-zone rates for modern ships did not surpass $5,500-6,000 per day. The spread between the two basins, Atlantic and Pacific, have progressively widened. All newbuildings were delivered into the Pacific area, and the reduction of voyage times (ton/miles), quickly repositioning these ships into their original area of operation, weighed heavily on freight levels. As with the Capesizes, levels from the Atlantic to the Pacific rose during the first three quarters, with modern vessels obtaining daily returns rising from about $ 7,500 in January to nearly $13,000 end December. This situation lasted until the beginning of the fourth quarter when volumes of coal coming out of China primarily for Japanese destination helped push rates even higher. At the end of the year however the Pacific market went along with its alter ego in the Atlantic. Backhaul rates stayed low throughout the year, with owners having tonnage in the zone being prepared to make sacrifices in order to return to the more advantageous Atlantic.

 

As with the Capesize fleet, the number of Panamaxes delivered in 2002 was down compared to the previous year. Fifty-five ships for 4,1 million dwt entered service, as against 116 in 2001. This drop in deliveries will be even more marked in 2003, as only 26 new ships for less than 2 million dwt, will come out of the Asian shipyards. For the same reasons as with the Capes, orders burgeoned during the second half, mainly with the Japanese yards and to a lesser extent with the Chinese. As a result, 76 orders were placed in 2002, with deliveries being spread out over 2004 and 2005. Scrappings remained modest, with only 29 units of which 4 combined ships removed from the fleet. Finally a new type of Panamax should be noted, the Kamsarmax, its name being derived from a port in Guinea and developed by the Japanese shipyard Tsuneishi, with a deadweight of 82,000 (length of 229 meters, width of 32,26 meters, draught of 14,35 meters) and capacity of 97,000 cbm and of which seven units have been ordered.

The bulk carrier market of Handymax and Handysize offers a more contrasted picture. On the one hand, the Pacific market has suffered for a long time from the high level of newbuildings being delivered, since on average nearly 3 ships per week have been coming onto the market in 2002. Conversely the Atlantic market has been well supported mainly with traffic to the Far East. Important volumes of steel, fertilisers, and cereals leaving the Black Sea, the Mediterranean and North Europe helped sustain freight rates for a good part of the year. Consequently large, modern Handymaxes have been able to obtain rates reaching up to $14,000 per day for voyages to the Far East. Satisfactory levels were seen throughout the year, with levels never falling below $10,000 per day after April. As with the Panamax, Handymax owners not wishing to go off into the Pacific zone at any price, were able to get premiums on these destinations. At the start of the year the Atlantic market was hesitant, with the grain trade out of South America being slow to get off the mark. For ships between 43,000 ' 45,000 dwt, daily returns for inter-Atlantic business averaged at $8,500 per day, the lowest being in January at below $7,000 per day, and the highest in December at around $10,000 per day. The Indian Ocean and the Middle East Gulf zones also benefited from a generally favourable market due to traffic into India or China. The Pacific market remained depressed for the first three quarters of 2002, with levels for inter-zone voyages rarely going over $ 6,000 per day. During the last quarter freight rates firmed up steadily to the point of reaching Atlantic levels right at the end of the year.

Handysize ships traditionally enjoy a less volatile market and started the year below $6,000 per day for short periods reached levels near $7,000 during the last quarter. The Handysize fleet is old and should therefore diminish progressively over the coming years, and with no new units coming in to replace those leaving the fleet bringing about changes mainly in the sugar and fertiliser trade.

The decrease in deliveries of Handymax and Handysizes in 2002 compared to 2001 had less of an affect on the large size of dry bulk carriers, but the persistent flow of nearly 3 ships per week coming out of the Asian yards put continuous pressure on the Pacific market. 148 ships for 6,2 million dwt came into service compared to 155 the previous year. With the same causes producing the same effects, orders were extremely high in 2002.

About 160 new contracts were signed with confirmation this year of the attraction for Super Handymaxes, ships over 50,000 dwt, for which an increasing number was ordered with Japanese and Chinese shipyards. Against these deliveries, there was an offset of 123 old units which went to scrap. But contrary to the Capesize and Panamax, the volume of deliveries will continue to be felt in 2003 since nearly 130 ships should be delivered.

The new year's prospects are similar to those at the end of 2002. Iron ore and coal volumes are on an upward trend. Moreover, concerning the Capesize and above all Panamaxes, new deliveries will be very restricted in 2003, giving a welcomed respite for owners. Two uncertainties remain however : during the course of the year will the hopes of a world economic revival, repeatedly delayed, give an additional stimulus to the dry bulk movements? Will China, the driving force in the dry bulk market, continue to charge ahead at full speed and for how long? The American military intervention in Iraq, even of short duration, will put back this recovery and would bring about repercussions which nobody can precisely foresee.

* * *

The future is always right!
 


 

The second-hand market
 
The Capesize second-hand market (80,000 dwt and over)

Following as always the freight market with a certain variation both in time as well as intensity, the second-hand Capesize market globally tracked the drop in the last months of 2001 before picking up at the beginning of 2002.

This increase continued until March / April. Prices then remained stable before firming up significantly again as from September. The year finished on a very strong upbeat.
We have noted some 36 sales for further trading (17 comprising ships delivered between 1990 and 2002, and 19 Capesize built between 1981 and 1989). Nine ships built between 1971 and 1982 were scrapped this year, roughly 1.14 million dwt, whereas 26 ships were delivered amounting to 4.25 million dwt.

Owners lured by a modest orderbook (about 9.3% of the existing fleet at the end of 2001), reasonable prices for construction and historically low dollar interest rates, were unable to resist the temptation to order on a massive scale.

There have been about fifty firm orders placed in the course of the year 2002, for a total capacity of 8.5 million dwt, figures which are worth comparing with the 20 orders of 2001 representing a total tonnage of 3.37 million dwt.

The strong rise in freight rates during the last quarter has however benefited primarily to second-hand ships available on a prompt basis.

Based on construction in a good shipyard, fully classed and in good condition, the following prices apply:

  

  

January 2002

  

December 2002

150 000 dwt

built in 1990

about $14 / 14.25 m

about $ 17.25 / 17.5 m

150 000 dwt

built in 1995

about $18.5 / 19 m

about $ 24.5 m

There are some encouraging signs at the end of 2002 and optimism is in the air, even if some of uncertainties cloud the market, such as the collateral effects of the war in Iraq, new regulations being studied for the introduction of double-hulls for bulk carriers, etc.

One should also not forget that the tonnage on order has to be absorbed by the market. In 2003, there will be some 5.0 million dwt added, followed by a further 6.4 million dwt in 2004 and with the firm orders recorded so far, over 2.0 million for 2005.
  

The Panamax, Handymax & Handysize bulk carriers second-hand market

Predicting what the future may bring can be dangerous, whereas if a prediction proves to be correct then whoever was bold enough to make it, can but refer to it.

In our last year's annual review covering these sizes we were of the opinion that 'values had bottomed out' and that anyone interested in investing in these sizes should be inspecting and offering as soon as possible as we felt that in the near future prices would increase. In the case of Panamax and Handymax size we were in fact cautioning prospective buyers of a possible 'stampede', which would in turn cause prices to climb faster and without any real logic.

It seems that this is what more or less happened.

Freight rates were rather stable for the first part of the year but the feeling that prices had reached the bottom fuelled competition amongst prospective buyers resulting in higher prices than the last comparable sales. Then as soon as buyers started to cool down the freight markets started to firm-up resulting in very good chartering returns for dry bulk owners, which was the perfect reason for any potential buyer to go out hunting again.

Prices across the board increased about 10 / 15 % within a few months, whereas the overall price increase at the end of 2002 reached a very healthy 25 % and in some cases has exceeded 30 % when compared to the beginning of 2002 / end of 2001. Once this trend was firmly established in buyer's minds, it caused a flurry of activity in the sale & purchase market.

A total of about 330 ships reportedly changed hands during 2002, this is about double the number of ships when compared to 2001. A 100 % increase in the number of transactions.
Looking closer at the three size segments, we note that when compared to the previous year there was an increase in the reported number of sales as follows:

75 % more Panamax sales

(2002 : 70 ships / 2001 : 40 ships)

144 % more Handymax sales

(2002 : 117 ships / 2001 : 48 ships)

86 % more Handysize sales

(2002 : 143 ships / 2001 : 77 ships)

It would seem that the Greek shipping community was quick to realise this trend and actively participated in purchasing vessels thus keeping the leading role amongst the buyers of second-hand bulk tonnage. Greek buyers bought about 165 vessels representing about 50 % of the reported sales in the three size categories under consideration.

Favourite amongst the Greek buyers proved to be the Panamax size for which they picked up about 64 % of the ships sold during the year, the Handymax category coming second with about 58 % of all transactions reported to Greek buyers, leaving the Handysize in the third place but with a respectable 35 % of the sales being reported to Greeks.

Chinese buyers were always present especially in the Handymax and Handysize segments the latter being their favourite 'hunting ground'.

Korean buyers where more active than in the past few years, especially in the latter part of 2002 going after ships in all three categories, although early 1980's built Panamax and Handymax ships seemed to have been what they were most keen on.

As one would expect when looking at sales for demolition, the number of ships reported sold for recycling during 2002 is significantly less than those sold during the previous year.

  • Panamax: about 0.9 million dwt was removed this year, 13 vessels, representing a decrease of about 60 % over 2001 figures.

  • Handymax: about 0.86 million dwt was removed during 2002, 20 vessels, representing a decrease of about 24 % over 2001 figures.

  • Handysize: about 2.12 million dwt were removed this year, 78 vessels, representing a decrease of about 15 % over 2001 figures.

Less ships going for recycling resulted in a sharp increase of prices obtained per light ton displacement from buyers of such tonnage which at the end of 2002 for a bulk carrier stands at about US$ 170-175 per ton.
 

  • Panamax

    A total of 70 ships were reported sold during 2002 and among these:

    • 1 ship was built in 1977 - she was sold for further trading to Indian buyers,

    • 49 ships were built in the 1980's (70 % of the reported sales), of which 14 were over 20 years old, 28 were 15-20 years old, 7 were 10-15 years old,

    • 19 ships were built in the 1990's (27 % of the reported sales), of which 14 were less than 10 years old,

    • 1 vessel was built in 2000 ' she was sold to Greek buyers.

    At the end of 2002 a 10 years old Panamax bulk carrier worth about US$ 11.75 / 12.0 million, representing an increase of about 30 / 33 % over a period of 12 months, a 5 years old Panamax bulk carrier worth about US$ 17.0 / 17.25 million, which represents about 28 % appreciation when compared to the value one year earlier in December 2001.

  • Handymax (35 000 ' 52 000 tpl)

    A total of 117 ships were reported sold during 2002 and among these:

    • 11 ships were built in the 1970's (about 9.5 % of the total Handymax sales), the oldest being a 1976-built vessel sold for further trading to Turkish buyers,

    • 67 ships were built in the 1980's (about 57 % of the total Handymax sales),
      ' 3 ships were over 20 years old,
      ' 59 ships were 15-20 years old,
      ' 5 ships were built 1988-1989,

    • 35 ships were built in the 90's (about 30 % of the total Handymax sales),
      ' 27 ships were 5-10 years old,
      ' 8 ships were 5 years old or younger,

    • 4 ships were built in 2000 representing about 3.5 % of the total Handymax sales.

At the end of 2002 a 10 years old Handymax bulk carrier worth about US$ 10.5 / 11.0 million, representing an increase of about 20 / 22 % over a period of 12 months, a 5 years old Handymax bulk carrier worth about US$ 14.25 / 14.5 million which represents a 16 % appreciation when compared to one year earlier in December 2001.

  • Handysize (18 000 ' 35 000 tpl)

    A total of 143 ships were reported sold during 2002 and among these:

    • 28 ships were built in the 1970's (about 19.6 % of the total Handy sales).

    • 86 ships were built in the 1980's (about 60 % of the total Handy sales)

    • 26 ships were over 20 years old,

    • 55 ships were 15-20 years old,

    • 5 ships were built 1988 / 89.

    • 28 ships were built in the 1990's (about 19.6 % of the total Handy sales)

    • 3 ships were over 10 years old,

    • 18 ships were 5 / 10 years old,

    • 7 ships were 5 years old or younger.

    • 1 ship was built in 2001, she was sold to Cuban interests.

    At the end of 2002 a 10 years old Handy bulk carrier worth about US$ 8.0 / 8.25 million, representing an increase of about 15 % over a period of 12 months, a 5 years old Handy bulk carrier worth about US$ 11.25 million, which represents a 7 % appreciation when compared to one year earlier in December 2001.

* * *

Concluding this review of the second-hand Panamax, Handymax and Handysize bulk carrier market and looking ahead, a lot will obviously depend on which way the freight markets will be heading for, but at the end of the year the feeling is that the dry bulk market maintains it's momentum and this should be felt on vessels' prices.

We would therefore expect values to remain firm with a slight upward trend over the next few months.
 

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Agreement for the digitalization of motorway traffic flows with the ports of Trieste and Monfalcone
Trieste
It was signed by the Port System Authority of the Adriatic Sea and by Autostrade Alto Adriatico
Dominguez (IMO) urges investment in decarbonising shipping
Dominguez (IMO) urges investment in decarbonising shipping
Munich/Brussels
Opportunity Green, Seas At Risk and Transport & Environment urge nations to include shipping emissions in their Nationally Determined Contributions
RFI and MIT sign the update to the program contract for approximately 2.1 billion
Rome
Around 500 million euros expected for the management of the railway network
San Giorgio del Porto delivers a vessel for the bunkering of liquefied natural gas
Genoa
It was built for Genova Trasporti Marittimi
Pisano (AdSP Liguria Orientale): the ports of La Spezia and Carrara have integrated almost perfectly
La Spezia/Bari
Extraordinary Commissioner of the Southern Adriatic Sea Port Authority appointed
Raffaele Latrofa appointed president of the AdSP of the Central-Northern Tyrrhenian Sea
Rome
He is the deputy mayor of Pisa
India's Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Acquires Control of Sri Lanka's Colombo Dockyard
Mumbai
Investment of approximately 53 million dollars
The Commissioner of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority has been granted the powers and prerogatives of the Management Committee
Genoa
The measure pending the restoration of the ordinary top management bodies
The Three-Year Operational Plan 2025-2027 of the Central Adriatic Port Authority has been approved
Ancona
Favorable opinion of the Sea Resource Partnership Body
The public meeting of the International Containers Studies Center will be held in Genoa on July 2nd
Genoa
It will deal with the physical transformations of the container and the digitalization of processes
Andrea Ormesani is the new president of Assosped Venezia
Venice
The board of directors has been renewed. Paolo Salvaro remains general secretary
Witte (ISU): In 2024, the ship salvage sector stabilized from the low of two years ago
London
Finnish Elomatic to Install Tunnel Thrusters on 11 Carnival Cruise Ships
Turku
The works will begin next autumn and will end in 2028
The Assarmatori assembly will be held in Rome on July 1st
Rome
"Mediterranean against the current" the theme of the meeting
Fincantieri has delivered the new cruise ship Viking Vesta to the American Viking
Trieste/Los Angeles
It was built in the Ancona shipyard
The Genoa Coast Guard has placed the container ship PL Germany under administrative detention
Genoa
Italian Navy orders two new Multipurpose Combat Ships from Fincantieri
Trieste
The order to the shipbuilding company is worth 700 million euros
MSC Group to manage cruise services in the ports of Bari and Brindisi
Bari
Ten-year concession with possibility of extension
German Kombiverkehr Returns to Profit in 2024
Frankfurt am Main
The level of revenues remained unchanged at 434.6 million euros.
Deltamarin to design the six new ro-pax vessels ordered by Grimaldi for the Mediterranean routes
Turku
SAILING LIST
Visual Sailing List
Departure ports
Arrival ports by:
- alphabetical order
- country
- geographical areas
The practice of subcontracting in European logistics is creating a parallel labour market where rights are not enforced
Brussels
"Sorry, We Subcontracted You" Report Presented
Tomorrow Grendi will launch the group's fourth ship on routes to and from Sardinia
Milan
"Grendi Star", with a load capacity of 2,800 linear meters, will connect Marina di Carrara and Cagliari
FREMM frigates operational support contract signed between Orizzonte Sistemi Navali and OCCAR
Taranto
The agreement has a total value of approximately 764 million euros
Call to reform the entire driver training system in the transport sector
Rome
Seven proposals presented
In the port of Gioia Tauro, the Guardia di Finanza soldiers seized 228 kilos of cocaine
Reggio Calabria
Two dockers arrested
Port of Livorno, new observatory to find solutions to the problem of port congestion
Leghorn
Marilli: We will seek solutions to reach the possible revocation of the port fee
Lockton PL Ferrari closed the last fiscal year with gross revenues of 34 million dollars
Genoa
Insurance premium volume rose to 350 million
Polish Trans Polonia Group acquires Dutch Nijman/Zeetank Holding
Tczew
It specializes in the transportation and logistics of liquid and gaseous products
d'Amico Tankers Sells Two 2011-Built Tankers for $36.2 Million
Luxembourg
They will be delivered to buyers by the end of July and on December 21st.
The Italian Merchant Marine Academy plans 13 new free courses
Genoa
Over 300 positions available
A delegation of Wista Italy visits the ports of Catania and Augusta
Catania/August
The association is made up of women who hold positions of responsibility in the maritime, logistics and trade sectors.
In the first five months of 2025, the port of Algeciras handled 1.9 million containers (-6.3%)
Algeciras
Empty containers decreased by -5.5% and full ones by -6.4%
Reway Group enters the port railway infrastructure maintenance sector
Licciana Nardi
Two contracts awarded by the AdSP of the Eastern Ligurian Sea
Delcomar and Ensamar take over maritime services with the smaller Sardinian islands
Cagliari
The tender for the six-year concession of the connections has been awarded
Port of Trieste, the newly appointed Gurrieri torpedoes the newly appointed Torbianelli
Trieste
Russo (Pd): it's a squalid power game
Singapore's SeaLead expands its maritime shipping offering to connect Turkey and Italy
Singapore
Route connected to services transiting the Suez Canal
The US Container Security Initiative program has been extended to Morocco
Rabat
Amrani: Let's consolidate Tanger Med's role as a safe and world-class maritime hub
Very positive first quarter for Greek Euroseas
Athens
Pittas: the positive momentum continued in the second quarter
Assonat and SACE present a plan for Italian tourist ports
Rome
Kuehne+Nagel has opened a new branch in Naples
Milan
The aim is to support the operational growth of the group in Southern Italy
RINA has acquired the entire capital of Finnish Foreship
Helsinki
The Helsinki-based company specializes in consulting in the field of marine and mechanical engineering.
Container traffic down at Barcelona and Valencia ports in May
Barcelona/Valencia
Resumption of containers in transit at the Catalan port
Annual cargo traffic in Greek ports stable in 2024
Piraeus
Domestic volumes are growing, while foreign trade is decreasing
Perplexity of freight forwarders, customs agents and maritime agents of La Spezia at the transfer of the port of Carrara to the Tuscan AdSP
The Spice
Timidly, they "hope for consideration for the progress made so far"
Francesco Mastro appointed extraordinary commissioner of the Southern Adriatic Sea Port Authority
Rome
He will take up office on June 30th.
John Denholm to be new president of the International Chamber of Shipping
Athens
He will take over from Emanuele Grimaldi in a year
Extraordinary commissioners of the two Ligurian Port System Authorities have been installed
Genoa/La Spezia
Matteo Paroli and Bruno Pisano at the helm of the institutions
Container traffic at Hong Kong port drops sharply in May
Hong Kong
1.05 million TEUs were handled (-12.7%)
Assogasliquidi-Federchimica shows the way to accelerate the decarbonization of road and maritime transport
Rome
Amadei: Our sector is ready and the time has come for courageous industrial choices
Eagle S tanker command blamed for cutting submarine cables in Gulf of Finland
Advantages
The accident was caused by the ship's anchor
Online platform to report critical issues that put transport workers at risk
Genoa
It was prepared by Fit Cisl Liguria
GNV to create a direct summer connection between Civitavecchia and Tunis
Genoa
It will run alongside the historic route via Palermo
The unification of Grimaldi's concessions in the port of Barcelona has been completed
Madrid/Barcelona
The contract expires on September 20, 2035.
In the first five months of 2025, cargo traffic in Russian ports fell by -4.9%
St. Petersburg
A decrease of approximately -12% was recorded in May
Raben Logistics Group Creates Subsidiary in Türkiye
Milan
It will have 20 employees and a 2,000 square meter cross-dock warehouse
Alberto Dellepiane confirmed as president of Assorimorchiatori
Rome
The composition of the entire association leadership remains unchanged
Agreement between Fincantieri and Indonesian PMM to develop solutions to face new unconventional underwater challenges
PORTS
Italian Ports:
Ancona Genoa Ravenna
Augusta Gioia Tauro Salerno
Bari La Spezia Savona
Brindisi Leghorn Taranto
Cagliari Naples Trapani
Carrara Palermo Trieste
Civitavecchia Piombino Venice
Italian Interports: list World Ports: map
DATABASE
ShipownersShipbuilding and Shiprepairing Yards
ForwardersShip Suppliers
Shipping AgentsTruckers
MEETINGS
The Assarmatori assembly will be held in Rome on July 1st
Rome
"Mediterranean against the current" the theme of the meeting
The public meeting of the International Containers Studies Center will be held in Genoa on July 2nd
Genoa
››› Meetings File
PRESS REVIEW
US has its eye on Greek ports
(Kathimerini)
Proposed 30% increase for port tariffs to be in phases, says Loke
(Free Malaysia Today)
››› Press Review File
FORUM of Shipping
and Logistics
Intervento del presidente Tomaso Cognolato
Roma, 19 giugno 2025
››› File
Structural adaptation works on dock 23 of the port of Ancona awarded
Ancona
Intervention worth over 11.8 million euros
Conference on the role of LNG and bioLNG for the decarbonisation of transport and industry
Rome
The Federchimica-Assogasliquidi event will take place on Monday in Rome
Dutch Bolidt increases presence in cruise ship sector with acquisition of American Boteka
Hendrik Ido Ambacht
Contship Italia has acquired the Genoese customs services company STS
Melzo
The Ligurian company was founded in 1985
Francesco Benevolo has been appointed extraordinary commissioner of the AdSP of the Central-Northern Adriatic Sea
Rome
He is the operations director of RAM - Logistics, Infrastructure and Transport
Montaresi resigns as commissioner of the Eastern Ligurian Port Authority
The Spice
In the eight months of administration - he underlines - we have not lost even a second
Gurrieri has been appointed extraordinary commissioner of the AdSP of the Eastern Adriatic Sea
Trieste
Pending the completion of the formal process for the designation of the president
The commissioners of the AdSP of Western Liguria have handed over their mandate to Minister Salvini
Genoa
The decision is part of the process of designation and nomination of the new leaders
Confetra criticizes the provisions of the decree-law Infrastructure for road transport
Rome
The Confederation urges the blocking of the process of appointing the presidents of the port authorities
Taiwanese Evergreen, Yang Ming and WHL saw revenue decline in May
Keelung/Taipei
The decline is accentuated for the two main companies
South Korea's KSOE wins order to build eight 15,900 TEU containerships
Seongnam
The unit value of each vessel is approximately $221 million.
First port terminal for car traffic of Greek Neptune Lines
Piraeus
It will be inaugurated next year in the French port of Port-La Nouvelle
The assembly of the association of Genoese maritime agents and brokers will be held on June 16th
Genoa
Round Table on Genoa, the hub of the North West and the Mediterranean
BN di Navigazione Board of Directors Renewed
Genoa
BluNavy aims to reach one million passengers by 2025
Viking Line designs world's largest all-electric ro-pax vessel
Viking Line designs world's largest all-electric ro-pax vessel
Åland
Record Monthly Container Traffic at Turkish Ports
Ankara
In May, almost 1.4 million TEUs were handled (+17.6%)
Sergio Landolfi has been elected president of the Customs Association of the Port of La Spezia
The Spice
The board of directors has been renewed
The ferry industry elite will attend the Interferry conference in Salerno in October
Victoria
Event titled "Connections"
Uniport launches an initiative to support ALS research
Rome
Fundraising for the NeMO Clinical Center Serena Foundation Onlus
The Propeller Club of Genoa has analyzed risks and opportunities of using AI in the maritime and insurance sectors
Genoa
The importance of training in the use of technology was highlighted
Chantiers de l'Atlantique delivers luxury cruising yacht Luminara to The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Saint Nazaire
The ship will debut in Alaska
Maritime transport, with suppliers and naval contractors, is the cornerstone of Italy's trade
Port Cervo
ANPAN Annual Congress in Sardinia
Uiltrasporti, risk of chaos in Italian ports due to delays in appointing AdSP presidents
Rome
If we continue to distribute positions without taking into account the skills of future presidents - warns the union - we will be forced to mobilize
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